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Free agency preview: A's should be player for relievers

How about an affordable one-year deal with his original team, to re-establish himself heading into free agency next winter?

The A’s bullpen surely can use an offseason makeover.

Entering last season, the relief corps appeared to be one of Oakland’s strengths, even with an injury to closer Sean Doolittle. It didn’t take many games for things to disintegrate, however, and one-run losses (often due to blown late-inning leads) were the hallmark of the 2015 squad.

A’s general manager David Forst said upgrading the bullpen is the most pressing item on the offseason to-do list. Tyler Clippard, Doolittle’s fill-in at closer, was traded in July.